Back in August, Kanye West revealed that he would be releasing a joint EP with none other than Jay-Z called Watch The Throne. Then, two tracks from the project were released as part of West's G.O.O.D. Fridays series. This past weekend, in an interview with MTV's Sway, West revealed that the project will be beefed up to full-length status, and that he plans to record with Hov in the south of France somewhat soon. Specifics as to what new tracks will appear on the project have not been revealed yet, or if the previously released G.O.O.D. Friday tracks that were implied to be a part of it will remain so. A release date is also still pending.
Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is due out Nov. 22.
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After making a splash onto the web video scene and soon after being scooped up and named the first artist on Ellen Degeneres' new record label ElevenEleven, young Greyson Chance is on the launching pad of a long music career.
The 13 year-old web sensation first rose to fame back in April when he posted a YouTube video of him singing Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" -- to date, the video has garnered a whopping 32,000,000 views and counting.
Tomorrow, the singer/songwriter will take the next step of his career when RyanSeacrest.com exclusively world premieres his debut single "Waiting Outside The Lines" at 6am PST/9am EST.
"The song comes from the heart and I hope and pray that my fans can use it to 'escape' from all the pressures of life," said Chance. "I can't wait for everyone to take this journey with me."
After Ryan Seacrest world premieres the single on-air and online tomorrow, Chance will perform it LIVE on Ellen's show! Don't miss what's sure to be a show-stopping performance -- click here to find out when "Ellen" is on in your area!
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There are moments in music history in which have completely altered and revolutionized the music industry for ever. These are epic moments which sometimes aren't recognized for their significance until decades later. Moments such as:
* Bob Dylan releasing the six minute "Like a Rolling Stone" , ending the three minute song era.
* Grandmaster Flash's "Adventures on the Wheels of Steel" becoming the first rap song to ever use samples from other songs.
* Michael Jackson's "Thriller".
* NWA's "F*** the Police" becoming the first banned song from the radio and music television.
* Or even the discovery of Napster which introduced downloading; marking the end of traditional music formats as we knew them.
On Sunday, October 23rd another one of these moments took place. Kanye West premiered his Runaway film to the entire world. A 35 minute film based on the story of a phoenix; played by Selita Ebanks; who crashes into earth and is forced to learn about life on earth. The film starts with Kanye rapping and driving on a road surrounded by woods when he is suddenly hit by the phoenix that crashes right in the middle of the road causing a huge explosion. West then tries to help her assimilate to the life on earth. However the film shows how people on earth aren't accepting of anything that's different; depicting the human race as intolerable and indifferent.
The film was directed by West himself. There's not much dialogue throughout the film rather a compilation of snippets from songs off Kanye's new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy which comes out November 22nd. The DVD of Runaway will also be included with the limited edition version of the album.
Now think about how unique, original and revolutionary a venture like this is ? No music artist in history has ever even attempted to compile a film made up of various songs from one album, telling a story the way West did has done with Runaway . Not to mention the film was played simultaneously on MTV, MTV2, and BET. Millions of viewers tuned in to watch: supporters, doubters, and casual music fans. On twitter; one of the largest networking sites; #Runaway was the number one trending topic. And oh yeah #askkanye was 3rd, #selita was 6th and #Ebanks was 7th all at the same time.
The man is a visionary. Whether you like the person he is or you despise him, you have to respect his impact and his dedication to what he loves to do. With Runaway and his new album he is raising the bar, and setting up new standards for all music artists (emphasis on artist). Soon instead of music videos for individual singles all music artists will be making films just like this one, probably better. But we must all remember a decade or two from now who was the originator, and whom to give credit to . Mr. Kanye Omari West.
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A new track from Britney Spears upcoming album has been leaked months before its planned release, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
The pop sensation plans to release Pleasure You - a three minute tune in which Spears stays true to form and sings about being submissive, a servant and doing whatever it takes to please her man.
The track was played to RadarOnline.com by a source connected to the singer.
The leak has infuriated record bosses at Spears’ label JIVE, who were stunned when informed of the unauthorized release by RadarOnline.com.
"We are totally unaware of the song being leaked," a JIVE rep told RadarOnline.com.
"We don't know how her song or any other artists song could have been released. We're looking into the issue."
One verse of the track is particularly colorful where the pop star sings:
"If you want to get rough in that lay on your back, I got the max suddenly I'll pull you through whatever just to pleasure you."
The song beat is soft and slow, curiously, like that of an R&B song — a monumental shift for the pop starlet.
"We can't discuss details as to if she's working on a new album," the rep told RadarOnline.com.
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Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair” video has quickly become a pop culture phenomenon and YouTube has the numbers to prove it!
There’s no doubt that everyone has fallen in love with 9-year-old Willow Smith and her song “Whip My Hair,” but the surprising thing is that she’s beating out heavy hitters in the music biz, like Rihanna, 22, for top video views on YouTube!
Rihanna’s video for “Only Girl (in the World)” was posted Oct. 14 and has reached 3,518,973 (and counting!) views. That’s not small peanuts for the multi-platinum music star, but from the looks of it, she’s got some serious competition!
Willow Smith, daughter of mega movie stars, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, has hit the music scene running with her song “Whip My Hair.” Her viewing numbers since the video premiere Oct. 19 have gone beyond expectation and trumped Rihanna with 4,909,999 (and counting!) views!
Wow! We are totally impressed that a 9-year-old can possess so much talent and charisma to steal the spotlight from a seasoned artist like Rihanna!
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Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine, was a double-winner at the Q Awards in London taking best female and best track for You've Got The Love.
Take That also made their first public appearance since Robbie Williams rejoined them in July.
The band, whose comeback single, The Flood, and new album, Progress, are both due out next month, won the magazine's hall of fame award.
Kasabian were named best act in the world.
Take That, who were sneaked into the awards to avoid the red carpet, were led on stage by Gary Barlow to collect their award.
'Extremely happy'
In their acceptance speech, Williams hinted that the band might be back for good.
"Very happy to be back - first day and we've won an award," he said. "I'd like to thank my boys. Extremely happy here. Looking forward to the next few years."
Take That with their award Take That made their first public appearance as a band since Williams quit in 1995
Another newly reformed band - Suede - picked up the Q inspiration award.
Singer Brett Anderson paid tribute to their original guitarist, Bernard Butler, who quit the line-up in 1994 during the recording of second album Dog Man Star.
"I don't think we can accept this award without mentioning Bernard and that great work he did with us early on. This one's for Bernard too."
He later described Suede's reunion in 2010 as "temporarily permanent".
'Alternative universe'
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We are looking forward to rubbing it into Arcade Fire's nose as soon as we see them!”
End Quote Matt Berninger The National
Surprise winner of best album was High Violet, the fifth release by New York band The National.
Singer Matt Berninger told the BBC: "It was weird and surreal and fun to see so many heroes in the same room. It felt as though we were plopped into an alternative universe for an hour there."
The National beat Arcade Fire, Green Day, Kings of Leon and Muse to the best album prize.
Berninger joked: "We are looking forward to rubbing it into Arcade Fire's nose as soon as we see them!"
Paolo Nutini picked up best male and Bryan Ferry was named the Q icon.
Mark Ronson and Paolo Nutini pose at the Q Awards 2010 Mark Ronson and Paolo Nutini were both winners
Best new act went to folk band Mumford and Sons while US rockers Green Day won the live award.
Best video went to End Credits, by Chase and Status featuring Plan B, who also won best breakthrough act.
Plan B said the award was a surprise, adding: "I expect the worst, I expect people to ignore me and be down on me because that is what I've experienced. I'm a little bit unaware of how big it has got until other people make me aware of it."
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* Reformed Suede to receive Q award
The Q classic album went to Band on the Run, by Wings. Sir Paul McCartney dedicated his award to late wife Linda who died in 1998 from cancer, who co-wrote and played on the album.
Meanwhile, the innovation in sound award went to super-producer Mark Ronson. Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, who presented the award, said Ronson was a deserving recipient.
"Having worked with him over the last 18 months, he's pretty extraordinary in the studio and has an enthusiasm and a willingness to experiment that you don't find in many modern producers."
There were also awards for other long-established acts including Madness, The Chemical Brothers, and Crowded House's Neil Finn.
Suggs, of Madness, joked the band had been "idle" for 30 years and that they were being rewarded for the laziness.
Other stars who attended the event at London's Grosvenor House Hotel included Nadine Coyle, Charlotte Church, Ray Davies, Corrine Bailey Rae, Sandie Shaw, Bernard Sumner and KT Tunstall.
Singer Clare Maguire, 22 - currently on tour with Plan B - was tipped as the next big thing.
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Everyone loves a comeback story, and in 2010, that's what they got from Eminem.
Even though Marshall Mathers sold 608,000 copies of 2009's Relapse in its first week, the project was panned by critics and longtime Em fans. They said he rhymed in too many weird voices, that the production sounded dated and that the subject matter was too grim. The LP didn't make enough of an impact, and there really wasn't much buzz around Eminem to even warrant him making the Hottest MCs list last year.
This year, however, was totally different. Eminem pretty much dominated 2010 from start to finish, and the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust voted him the #1 Hottest MC in the Game. "Obviously, the last album was lackluster," mtvU's Yomi Desalu said during the Hottest MCs roundtable discussion. "I think he recognized that, not being on the board last year."
Em got back in the swing of things this year, first by ripping the all-star posse cut "Forever," which, despite being released in September 2009, had enough momentum to keep playing all the way into 2010. Then he guested on the Lil Wayne single "Drop the World," a highly anticipated duet between the two rappers that had been buzzed about for years; added a poignant verse to the remix of B.o.B's "Airplanes"; and even dropped a couple of freestyles (on Drake's "Over" beat and Lloyd Banks' "Beamer, Benz or Bentley").
It all led up to the release of the first single from Recovery, "Not Afraid." The song was a turn of form for Em that found him spitting motivational rhymes and encouraging people to face their fears, for better or worse. In a post-recession America, it felt like a message people really needed to hear: Don't give up, because we're all in this together. "Not Afraid" hit #1 on the Hot 100 and pushed Recovery to 741,000 units sold its first week. Em followed that with "Love the Way You Lie," which was poignantly assisted by Rihanna.
That song also hit #1 on the Hot 100, as well as pretty much every other Billboard chart. The video was viewed 6.6 million times on the day it debuted on Vevo, a record for the site, and has since been viewed 167 million times. Both songs remain staples on radio playlists and video countdowns nationwide.
"Something about Em this time around, you don't feel like he's following some type of formula," MTV Jams' Tuma Basa said. "He didn't come out with that corny Slim Shady record. This time, he came like, 'I came to play.' And the records have this motivational anthemic type [of feel] we haven't seen in him. He's stepping into a new space."
While there's little doubt Em will take home a stack of trophies at the 2011 Grammys, he actually nabbed two this year for Best Rap Album (Relapse) and Best Performance by a Duo or Group ("Crack a Bottle" with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent). He also brought home VMAs for the Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video for "Not Afraid," while winning three Teen Choice Awards (Choice Rap Album for Relapse, Choice Rap Artist and Choice Rap/Hip-Hop Track for "Love the Way You Lie").
He also had a handful of performances on the BET Awards, the VMAs and the Grammy Awards. And who could forget his cameo on the season finale of HBO's "Entourage"? Em was everywhere in 2010.
But it was his Home and Home Tour with Jay-Z this past September that really showed just how big of a year he had. MTV News' Shaheem Reid wrote of the concert at Comerica Park: "Detroit hasn't screamed this loud at a baseball park since Kirk Gibson was hitting home runs in the 1984 World Series." Em actually faced stiff competition during the roundtable, where he was initially voted #2. Some Brain Trustees were coming for his head, claiming Jay-Z or Kanye should actually have that slot. The coup didn't last long, though.
"When you do close to 3 million in three months — come on, man," MTV News supervising producer Sean Lee said.
"You think Kanye's gonna sell 3 million?" MTV News senior producer Rahman Dukes added.
Others, like MTV News senior writer Jayson Rodriguez, felt like Kanye held more cultural caché at the moment. He was the new guy on the block; Em was old news.
But when it came down to a test of skills and performance on records, Eminem got the nod.
"He jumped on Wayne's 'Drop the World' and murdered that verse," Reid said. "Obviously, you heard him on 'Airplanes' with B.o.B, a very unexpected collaboration. Now you gotta come sit at the table with the other bosses in rap, and he's doing it."
Eventually, after initially voting to keep Jay-Z at #1, because of Eminem's momentous year, the roundtable pushed Em to the top.
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In March, Lady Gaga became the first person to reach one billion views of her music videos on the Internet. Today, she hit the one-billion mark on YouTube alone.
At the time of writing, uploads from Lady Gaga’s official music video channel, including the MTV Video Music Awards-winning videos “Poker Face”, “Paparazzi”, “Bad Romance” and “Telephone” feat. Beyoncé, have a total of 1,000,059,920 views.
Lady Gaga is the most popular singer on almost every major Internet website. Besides dominating YouTube, she also has the most subscribers on Twitter and Facebook. Earlier this year, Gaga was named the most searched for celebrity on Google.
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